.
The video above was filmed outside Stringfellows Club in Upper St Martins Lane. The protagonist works for Stringfellows.
The reason drivers have to endure such confrontations is due mainly to the non-enforcement policy of the TfL's Cab Enforcement and compliance units.
Night after night compliance teams can be found doing Badge and Bill checks at mainline stations, but never, repeat never attempt to check documents of PH drivers illegally forming minicab ranks outside clubs bars and hotels.
TfL have turned a blind eye to this illegal behaviour for many years and now the touts believe they have the right to form impromptu ranks anywhere they please.
Many PHV drivers park on Taxi ranks, simply because they have less chance of getting a ticket from wardens who just walk by, even though it has been long established they have the right to issue PCNs, it just doesn't happen.
Courageous Driver:
The driver in this clip showed amazing self control in the face of such a violent abusive attack.
He told Taxi Leaks that he took the video to the police and as a result of viewing the footage they flatly refused to act, saying there was a lack of evidence and at no point did he appeared to be worried, threatened of harassed by the outburst.
This was a discussing verbal attack on a licensed Taxi driver by a licensed private hire driver.
Had it been the other way round, the Taxi driver would have had the book thrown at him and possibly lost his bill.
Editorial Comment:
Most of the Taxi Drivers who attended the peaceful demonstration in Whitehall last year were served copies of the public order act 1985. It seems the Met only use this legislation to suit their own needs and agendas.
The Met need to be informed they swear a duty to uphold all laws, not just the ones that suit them.
Looking at the act itself below, as a layman I would say the minicab driver contravened both sec 4 and sec 4a.
I firmly believe the police were wrong to take no action against the PH driver, in light of the video footage and subsequent statement from the Taxi driver.
Public Order Act: 1985
Sec 4
Fear or provocation of violence.
(1)A person is guilty of an offence if he—
(a)uses towards another person threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or
(b)distributes or displays to another person any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting,
with intent to cause that person to believe that immediate unlawful violence will be used against him or another by any person, or to provoke the immediate use of unlawful violence by that person or another, or whereby that person is likely to believe that such violence will be used or it is likely that such violence will be provoked.
(2)An offence under this section may be committed in a public or a private place, except that no offence is committed where the words or behaviour are used, or the writing, sign or other visible representation is distributed or displayed, by a person inside a dwelling and the other person is also inside that or another dwelling.
(3)A constable may arrest without warrant anyone he reasonably suspects is committing an offence under this section.
(4)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or both.
Sec 4AIntentional harassment, alarm or distress.
(1)A person is guilty of an offence if, with intent to cause a person harassment, alarm or distress, he—
(a)uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, or
(b)displays any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting,
thereby causing that or another person harassment, alarm or distress.
(2)An offence under this section may be committed in a public or a private place, except that no offence is committed where the words or behaviour are used, or the writing, sign or other visible representation is displayed, by a person inside a dwelling and the person who is harassed, alarmed or distressed is also inside that or another dwelling.
(3)It is a defence for the accused to prove—
(a)that he was inside a dwelling and had no reason to believe that the words or behaviour used, or the writing, sign or other visible representation displayed, would be heard or seen by a person outside that or any other dwelling, or
(b)that his conduct was reasonable.
(4)A constable may arrest without warrant anyone he reasonably suspects is committing an offence under this section.
(5)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or both.]
